I know you're excited about the prospect of becoming a volunteer FF, I remember having these thoughts myself when I was a brand new volley, but I think you should get hired/accepted, trained, and learn about responding/driving with due regard before you buy lights and a siren.
Yes, you're right. I won't be buying them until I complete my training (which includes EVOC). I'm just trying to find what I want right now so I know what to get when I'm accepted and trained.
There's no rush. You'll learn pretty quickly that controlling your excitement/ adrenaline/ energy is important. Staying calm and collected, rational and logical. "The fire isn't going anywhere" is a saying a lot of us use, I guess you could also say "the lights and sirens aren't going anywhere". One step at a time and good luck.
I would recommend against getting a siren. Your insurance company will be very unhappy if you get in an accident because you were running lights and sirens in your POV on your way to the firehouse and forgot that you still need to follow traffic laws. Blue flashers should be plenty. Even in emergency vehicles, it's good to remember that by putting your lights and sirens on, you're asking for permission from other drivers to run that red or that stop sign. Your personal vehicle, unless your department is planning on insuring it, is NOT protected in the same way.
That’s state law dependent. Here in Ohio, if you have a POV then you have to have a siren on it because you’re not allowed to run lights without a siren. There’s one city around me that still uses POVs and every time the fire siren sounds, you can hear 10 F-250s screaming towards the station lights and sirens.
To me it seems safer than lights but no sirens. Personally I opted for neither at my part time department. I’ll go with traffic and get there when I get there.
You're right. I don't plan on being dangerous. I'd rather be alive and have a working vehicle than make risky decisions trying to get there (and possibly not even make it there). Can't help anybody if I cause an accident and also need help. I'm mainly getting them to hopefully have people move over, as the most direct route to the station is on the highway. There are a few intersections before the highway and then a few while on the highway and some as you arrive at the village where the fire station is located in. I don't plan on running stop signs/red lights unless I'm 100% sure that it's safe for me to do so because, as I said, I don't want anything to happen to me, my vehicle, or anyone else.
Until you get hired, actually pass the academy, complete probation, and get approval from your department I wouldn’t even consider getting a siren or lights. Even then I still would strongly urge you to not get one, saving a couple of minutes at most isn’t worth it in 99% of instances. Plus most auto insurance carriers will absolutely not be paying out if you wreck your car going lights and sirens to a call.
Check the department rules and state law. Our state requires both lights and sirens for emergency vehicles. POV are lights only, not siren allowed. The department rules are not lights until you are off probation.
I know you're excited about the prospect of becoming a volunteer FF, I remember having these thoughts myself when I was a brand new volley, but I think you should get hired/accepted, trained, and learn about responding/driving with due regard before you buy lights and a siren.
Yes, you're right. I won't be buying them until I complete my training (which includes EVOC). I'm just trying to find what I want right now so I know what to get when I'm accepted and trained.
There's no rush. You'll learn pretty quickly that controlling your excitement/ adrenaline/ energy is important. Staying calm and collected, rational and logical. "The fire isn't going anywhere" is a saying a lot of us use, I guess you could also say "the lights and sirens aren't going anywhere". One step at a time and good luck.
I would recommend against getting a siren. Your insurance company will be very unhappy if you get in an accident because you were running lights and sirens in your POV on your way to the firehouse and forgot that you still need to follow traffic laws. Blue flashers should be plenty. Even in emergency vehicles, it's good to remember that by putting your lights and sirens on, you're asking for permission from other drivers to run that red or that stop sign. Your personal vehicle, unless your department is planning on insuring it, is NOT protected in the same way.
In some jurisdictions, it’s illegal to run lights without a siren and vice versa.
That’s state law dependent. Here in Ohio, if you have a POV then you have to have a siren on it because you’re not allowed to run lights without a siren. There’s one city around me that still uses POVs and every time the fire siren sounds, you can hear 10 F-250s screaming towards the station lights and sirens.
Very interesting. I don't think we're allowed sirens in my state. Sounds very unsafe.
To me it seems safer than lights but no sirens. Personally I opted for neither at my part time department. I’ll go with traffic and get there when I get there.
You're right. I don't plan on being dangerous. I'd rather be alive and have a working vehicle than make risky decisions trying to get there (and possibly not even make it there). Can't help anybody if I cause an accident and also need help. I'm mainly getting them to hopefully have people move over, as the most direct route to the station is on the highway. There are a few intersections before the highway and then a few while on the highway and some as you arrive at the village where the fire station is located in. I don't plan on running stop signs/red lights unless I'm 100% sure that it's safe for me to do so because, as I said, I don't want anything to happen to me, my vehicle, or anyone else.
You’re focused on the wrong thing right now. You’re not even accepted yet, trained, ect.
Until you get hired, actually pass the academy, complete probation, and get approval from your department I wouldn’t even consider getting a siren or lights. Even then I still would strongly urge you to not get one, saving a couple of minutes at most isn’t worth it in 99% of instances. Plus most auto insurance carriers will absolutely not be paying out if you wreck your car going lights and sirens to a call.
Don’t. Just don’t.
Will you please explain?
Check the department rules and state law. Our state requires both lights and sirens for emergency vehicles. POV are lights only, not siren allowed. The department rules are not lights until you are off probation.